Automatic bidet

ABSTRACT

An automatic bidet has a toilet seat fixedly mounted to a toilet, a bottom sprayer disposed in the toilet seat that can stretch out freely from the toilet seat, and a handheld sprayer that is separated from the toilet seat. A water storage tank, a booster pump, a liquid valve are disposed in the toilet seat and are connected in sequence. The water in the water storage tank flows respectively to the bottom sprayer and the handheld sprayer from the liquid valve under the pressure of the booster pump. The handheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved head portion having a bulge. The top of the bulge is provided with a mammilliform water outlet. The automatic bidet is capable of cleaning anus and private parts of a male or a female, and the handheld spray device can be used to carry out enema by a user and the wastes can be let off completely. The whole process can be done under the condition that a user sits on the toilet. The wastes directly enter the toilet and the user&#39;s clothes are kept clean. The user can independently operate the present invention without help from other people so as to avoid the embarrassment of exposure of privacy.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sanitary facility. In particular, thepresent invention relates to an automatic bidet mounted to a toiletwhich can be used to wash private parts of a human body.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A commonly used traditional toilet comprises a water tank for flushingthe toilet bowl after a person uses it. Such a toilet cannot be used towash anus or female genitals.

Current automatic bidets comprise a traditional toilet but can also beused to wash anus or female genitals using water sprayed from a sprayrod that is connected to a water pump. The adjusting of the position ofthe spraying nozzle by the stretch out and draw back of the spray rod islimited. As for male private parts, current automatic bidets arehelpless.

Enema is commonly used for treatment of diseases and health care. Enemawith a traditional enemator requires the patient to lie on the side, anda medical worker or another person will penetrate an anus tube into theanus for 10 to 15 centimeters and then fill in an enema; when the enemaprocess is completed, the patient will have to get up and find arestroom to let the enema and dirt off. Traditional enema using anenemator has some problems as follows: 1) the enema treatment can not becarried out by the patient himself/herself and needs to be done by amedical worker or another person; 2) inconvenient as the patient has tolie down for enema and go to a restroom to let the enema and dirt offafter the enema process is completed, which may dirty the clothes andbed sheets; 3) embarrassing due to possible exposure of privacy.

An improved automatic bidet has been developed for effecting enema orhelping defecation, wherein a small hole having a diameter of about 1 mmis arranged at the front end of the spray rod to generate a centralizedtiny jet of water the pressure of which can be used to stimulate anus,and a portion of water can even enter the anus to facilitate lubricationand defecation. However, the amount of water which can enter the anus isrelatively small and this requires the user has a certain level ofskills of relaxing anal muscles. Thus, such an automatic bidet would notwork well or even fail for an elderly, a person can not relax the analmuscles or a person with serious constipation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an automaticbidet comprising a movable handheld sprayer, which can overcome thelimitations of current automatic bidets, i.e. the spraying rods beingrelatively fixed, regardless of the number of the spraying rods of onlyone spray rod is used, it may have multiple spray holes).

The automatic bidet having a movable handheld sprayer of the presentinvention comprises a toilet seat fixedly mounted to a toilet, and witha water supply means disposed therein, wherein the automatic bidetfurther comprises a handheld sprayer that is separated from the toiletseat, and the handheld sprayer is in fluid connection with the watersupply means in the toilet seat by a water supply hose.

The water supply means is comprised of a booster pump and a waterstorage tank which are connected in sequence. A first liquid valve isdisposed in the toilet seat, and a bottom sprayer extending out of theinterior of the toilet seat is also arranged and can stretch out anddraw back. The first liquid valve comprises an inlet and two outlets,wherein the inlet is connected to the outlet of the booster pump and thetwo outlets are connected respectively to the bottom sprayer and thehandheld sprayer. The water in the water storage tank will flow to thebottom sprayer or the handheld sprayer via the first liquid valve underthe pressure of the booster pump.

The automatic bidet may also comprise an external liquid storage tankwhich is disposed outside of the toilet seat. Meanwhile, the automaticbidet comprises a second liquid valve having two inlets and an outlet,wherein the two inlets are connected respectively to the internal waterstorage tank and the external liquid storage tank, the outlet isconnected to the inlet of the booster pump. The external liquid storagetank can be used to store certain enemas or liquid medicines, and thesecond liquid valve can he controlled manually or electrically for thesupply of liquid from the internal water storage tank in the toilet seator the external liquid storage tank.

An electric control unit may be disposed on the toilet seat to carry outan integrated control of the first liquid valve, the second liquidvalve, the booster pump and the stretch out and draw back of thesprayer.

A liquid level switch for controlling the water level, a heater forheating the water and a temperature control unit for the measuring andcontrol of the water temperature may be disposed in the water storagetank, and the liquid level switch, the heater and the temperaturecontrol unit can also be controlled by the electric control unit.

In an alternative embodiment, the water supply unit can also be aninstant heating unit having a water outlet and a water inlet which isconnected to a tap line. The instant heating unit heats the water sourceimmediately and the heated water will enter the booster pump and flowrespectively to the bottom sprayer or the handheld sprayer from thefirst liquid valve. In this way, the instant heating unit is used toreplace the water storage tank.

The handheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved headportion. The curved head portion comprises a bulge having a mammilliformwater outlet at the top thereof. The mammilliform water outlet ispreferably disposed in the central portion of the bulge. The curved headportion of the handheld sprayer is disposed at an angle of about 60degrees to about 120 degrees, preferably about 90 degrees, with respectto the handle portion of the handheld sprayer.

When using the present invention, a user can sit on the toilet, andselect various functions using the electric control unit. In particular,when male genitals washing is selected the water outlet of the handheldsprayer can be made facing down and spraying water at areas of interest,and the waste water will flow naturally into the toilet. When enema isselected, the mammilliform water outlet of the handheld sprayer can bemade aligned with the anus and pressed using a slight force to have thebulge around the mammilliform water outlet cover tightly the surroundingareas of the anus. Then, the switch of the pump can be pressed down andthe enema liquid can enter the rectum slowly under pressure, and thewastes resulted from the enema can be let off directly into the toilet,which would make the user very comfortable.

The temperature of the enema liquid can be preset and preferablymaintained at about 40°.

The automatic bidet of the present invention can not only wash anus andfemale genitals, which can be done by a known bidet, it can alsofacilitate washing of male genitals. Furthermore, the present inventionmakes it possible for a user to complete both enema and excretionindependently by just sitting on the toilet, and thus avoiding theinconveniences of a known enema process, such as the user has to lieaside on the bed and needs assistance of another person, and the userhas to walk to find a toilet to let the waste off after the enema.Additionally, the present invention will not dirty the sheets and avoidthe embarrassing situation of privacy exposure. The unique design of theenema head can also bring good enema results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic bidet of an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an automatic bidet of anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a handheld sprayer of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be further described in detail by referringto the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood thatthe following detailed description would rather be intended to describespecific structure features of the present invention, than to limit thescope thereof. Various equivalents or modifications without departingthe conception and spirit of the present invention would fall within thescope thereof.

Example 1

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic bidet provided in the present inventioncomprises a toilet seat 100 attached to a toilet base, and a toilet ringand a clamshell cover are mounted to the toilet seat 100. What aredisposed in the toilet seat 100 are a water storage tank 1, a boosterpump 8, a first liquid valve 7 and a second liquid valve 3, each are influid communication with each other via a water pipe.

A handheld sprayer 5 is disposed outside of the toilet seat 100 andconnected via a hose to the first liquid valve 7 and then the boosterpump 8 disposed in the toilet seat 100, A bottom sprayer 6 is disposedin such a manner that it extends out from the toilet seat 100, and iscapable of stretching out and drawing back. When the bottom sprayer 6stretches out, it is under the toilet ring. The bottom sprayer 6 is alsoconnected to the booster pump 8 via the first liquid valve 7. The firstliquid valve 7 comprises an inlet and two outlets wherein the inlet isconnected to the outlet of the booster pump 8, and the two outlets areconnected respectively to the bottom sprayer 6 and the handheld sprayer5.

An external liquid storage tank 2 may further be disposed outside of thetoilet seat 100 of the automatic bidet and used for storage of a washingsolution or an enema that can be designated by a physician. In thiscase, the second liquid valve 3 is required to have at least two inletsand an outlet wherein the two inlets are connected respectively to thewater storage tank 1 and the external liquid storage tank 2, and theoutlet is connected to the inlet of the booster pump 8. The secondliquid valve 3 may be controlled manually or electrically to take liquidfrom the internal water storage tank 1 or the external liquid storagetank 2.

An electric control unit 4 may be disposed on the toilet seat 100, andthe first liquid valve 7, the second liquid valve 3, the booster pump 8,the bottom sprayer 6 each can be connected to the electric control unit4 via cables and integrately controlled by the same. The control panelof the electric control unit 4 may comprise respective control buttons;however, respective remote controls may also be provided.

A liquid level switch to be used for controlling the water level, anelectric heater for heating and a temperature control unit for measuringand controlling the water temperature may be provided in the waterstorage tank 1. The liquid level switch, electric heater, temperaturecontrol unit each may also be connected to the electric control unit 4via cables and integrately controlled by the same.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order to use the automatic bidet as an enematorand achieve better enema effects, the handheld sprayer 5 comprises ahollow handle portion 51 and a curved head portion 52. The curved headportion 52 comprises a bulge 53 having a mammilliform water outlet 54 atthe top thereof. The mammilliform water outlet 54 is disposed in thecentral portion of the bulge 53 of the head portion 52 of the handheldsprayer 5. The curved head portion 52 is disposed at an angle of fromabout 60 degrees to about 120 degrees, preferably about 90 degrees, withrespect to the handle portion 51. The handheld sprayer 5 may be bayonetcoupled or screw connected to the pipe for supplying enema to facilitateeasy replacement of the handheld enema device.

The present invention can be used in the following ways:

1. When a general wash, such as a wash of anus or a wash of femalegenitals, is required, a user can start the booster pump 8 via theelectric control unit 4 and the booster pump 8 draws via the secondliquid valve 3 clean water or washing solution from the water storagetank 1 or the external liquid storage tank 2, and supplies the same viathe first liquid valve 7 to the bottom sprayer 6 from which the washwater or washing solution is sprayed to the anus or the female genitals.

2. When a wash of male genitals is required, a user can start thebooster pump 8 via the electric control unit 4 and the booster pump 8draws clean water via the second liquid valve 3 from the water storagetank 1 and supplies the same via the first liquid valve 7 to thehandheld sprayer 5 from which the clean water is sprayed to the malegenitals, and the waste water flows naturally into the toilet. A heatermay be disposed in the water storage tank 1 and used to pre-heat thewater to about 40° and this temperature can be maintained using atemperature control unit.

3. When the present invention is used for enema, a user can squat on asquatting pan or sit on the toilet, hold the handle portion 51 of thehandheld sprayer 5 and the mammilliform water outlet 54 can be madealigned with the anus and pressed using a slight force to have the roundbulge 53 around the mammilliform water outlet 54 cover tightly thesurrounding areas of the anus. Then, the switch of the pump 8 can bepressed down and the enema liquid can enter the rectum slowly underpressure, preferably under different pressures, and the wastes resultedfrom the enema can be let off directly into the toilet or the squattingpan, which would make the user very comfortable. The temperature of theenema can be pre-heated to, and maintained at about 40°.

Example 2

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic bidet of the present inventioncomprises a toilet seat 100 fixedly mounted to a toilet, and a toiletring and a clamshell cover are mounted to the toilet seat 100. Aninstant heating device 10, an external liquid storage tank 2, a boosterpump 8, a first liquid valve 7, a second liquid valve 3, a handheldsprayer 6, a bottom sprayer 6 and an electric control unit 4 aredisposed inside or outside of the toilet seat 100.

The arrangement of example 2 is basically identical with example 1,except the instant heating device 10 is used to replace the waterstorage tank 1 of example 1. The instant heating device 10 comprises aninlet and an outlet wherein the inlet is connected to a tap water pipeand the outlet is connected to the second liquid valve 3. The instantheating device 10 can carry out immediate heating of the water sourceand the heated water enters the booster pump 8, and then flows via thefirst liquid valve 7 to the bottom sprayer 6 or the handheld sprayer 5.The automatic bidet can also carry out all the functions as describedabove for example 1.

It should be understood that, although a water tank for supplying waterto flush the toilet is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present inventionmay include such a water tank.

1. An automatic bidet, comprising: a toilet seat attached to a toiletbase, the toilet seat comprises a water supply disposed therein, whereinthe automatic bidet further comprises a handheld sprayer that isseparated from the toilet seat, and the handheld sprayer is in fluidconnection with the water supply in the toilet seat by a water supplyhose.
 2. The automatic bidet according to claim 1, wherein the watersupply disposed in the toilet seat is comprised of a booster pump and awater storage tank which are connected in sequence.
 3. The automaticbidet according to claim 2, wherein the toilet seat comprises a firstliquid valve disposed therein and a bottom sprayer that can stretch outfreely from the toilet seat; the first liquid valve comprises an inletand two outlets wherein the inlet is connected to the outlet of thebooster pump disposed in the toilet seat, and the two outlets areconnected respectively to the bottom sprayer and the handheld sprayer.4. The automatic bidet according to claim 3, further comprises anexternal liquid storage tank disposed outside of the toilet seat and asecond liquid valve, wherein the second liquid valve comprises twoinlets and one outlet wherein the two inlets are connected respectivelyto the internal water storage tank and the external liquid storage tank,and the outlet is connected to the inlet of the booster pump.
 5. Theautomatic bidet according to claim 4, wherein a heater is disposed inthe water storage tank.
 6. The automatic bidet according to claim 5,wherein an electric control unit is disposed on the toilet seat, and thefirst liquid valve, the second liquid valve, the booster pump and theheater is integratedly controlled by the electric control unit.
 7. Theautomatic bidet according to claim 1, wherein the water supply disposedin the toilet seat comprises an instant heating unit having an inlet andan outlet.
 8. The automatic bidet according to claim 1, wherein thehandheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved headportion, and the curved head portion comprises a bulge having amammilliform water outlet at the top thereof.
 9. The automatic bidetaccording to claim 8, wherein the mammilliform water outlet is disposedin the central portion of the bulge.
 10. The automatic bidet accordingto claim 9, wherein the curved head portion of the handheld sprayer isdisposed at an angle of from 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect tothe handle portion.
 11. The automatic bidet according to claim 2,wherein the handheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and acurved head portion, and the curved head portion comprises a bulgehaving a mammilliform water outlet at the top thereof.
 12. The automaticbidet according to claim 4, wherein the handheld sprayer comprises ahollow handle portion and a curved head portion, and the curved headportion comprises a bulge having a mammilliform water outlet at the topthereof.
 13. The automatic bidet according to claim 6, wherein thehandheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved headportion, and the curved head portion comprises a bulge having amammilliform water outlet at the top thereof.
 14. The automatic bidetaccording to claim 13, wherein the mammilliform water outlet is disposedin the central portion of the bulge.
 15. The automatic bidet accordingto claim 14, wherein the curved head portion of the handheld sprayer isdisposed at an angle of from 60 degrees to 120 degrees with respect tothe handle portion.
 16. The automatic bidet according to claim 4,wherein the external liquid storage tank contains an enema solution.